Today Magazine • April 2023

TODAY Covering the Heart of the Farmington Valley

CENTURY CELEBRATION CCHF Marks 105 Years of Health-Focused Care

APRIL 2023 • WWW.TODAYPUBLISHING.NET

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HOUSE-HUNTING TEST Here’s a multiple-choice quiz to test your animal acumen — is this photo: • A walrus masquerading as a bird?

• A female cat with its signature whiskers posing as a male finch?

• A male house finch collecting nest material?

The photographer who took the photo in late March in a Canton backyard will surely confirm the correct choice — yet if someone really doesn’t know the answer, what would you think about their ability to see clearly?

And would you want him or her to pet-sit — or babysit — for you and your family?

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APRIL 2023 – www.TodayPublishing.net – TODAY MAGAZINE

Photo by Wendy Rosenberg

Here’s hoping and praying for a good start to spring in your neck of the woods and throughout the Farmington Valley!

LEADING OFF

A Well-Being Conundrum

CONTENTS

A SHOW of hands, please — who would prefer health, safety and well-being to the opposite? Safe to say, everyone reading this magazine will raise their hands in affirmation. A local nonprofit has aimed to elevate the health, safety and wellbeing of Canton residents for a quarter-century — with roots that trace back more than a century. Yes, the Canton Community Health Fund aka CCHF funds myriad initiatives and programs with this lofty goal in mind.

NOTEWORTHY NONPROFITS Have you ever wondered why we humans have, in a foundational way, the same goals and hopes and dreams … only to see those hopes crash and burn 11 — High Hopes For Small Town CCHF seeks to build on a heartfelt 105-year legacy when disagreement ensues and conflict erupts over how to best achieve those common goals and realize those shared dreams? of making a big impact in a small community This question is among the notable conundrums of the human experiment, HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS and a solution is difficult to pin down. Intuition tells me the best answer is con16 — Emergency Ancestry nected to whom we’re asking — and will have a human-and-divine component, CCHF’s lineage begins in 1918 — when a pandemic with primary reliance on the divine, yet with a key dose of human responsibility • BWD far worse than COVID rocked the world COVER STORY

4 — A Health-Centric Century The Canton Community Health Fund is the direct descendant of two vital Visiting Nurse Associations and champions a host of local initiatives

VALLEY INTEL

18 — Mission Possible Meet the nurse who personified the heart and soul of CCHF’s mission after WW1 and through WW2 QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“ You can participate and … make a real difference — that’s the thing about small towns: Your voice can be heard ” — Sylvia Cancela

BY THE NUMBERS

$570,000 —25-year CCHF funding

LETTERS

newsroom@TodayPublishing.net

COVER STORY KUDOS Today Magazine’s March cover story featured a brief master class from Canton historian Kathy Taylor about the fascinating history of three village greens in her hometown —CLICK HERE for our coverage Today Magazine’s February cover story featured Avon High’s Abrahamic Bus Ride Against Hate on MLK Day and a visit from the only American to stay in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide —CLICK HERE for our coverage I AM VERY HAPPY with how my article about the Canton village greens was presented — the photos from the current day and the Canton Historical Museum really made a difference.

Thank you!

—Kathy Taylor • Canton Town Historian THE ARTICLE on the MLK Day Bus Ride was yet another enriching piece. It emphasized common grounds of faith that could bring more healing and tolerance in a ruptured society with glaring fault lines of thoughts that make us perceive others as different from us. Keep up the good work!

—Sana Syed • Simsbury

Today Magazine • Covering the Heart of the Farmington Valley Bruce William Deckert — Publisher + Editor-in-Chief 860-988-1910 • Bruce.Deckert@TodayPublishing.net www.TodayPublishing.net > Digital Editions • Award-Winning Today Online • 24/7 news — www.TodayPublishing.net/blog Follow Today Magazine CT on social media > Advertising — Contact the Publisher Editorial Associate — Kayla Tyson Contributing Photographer — Wendy Rosenberg Five Towns • One Aim — Exceptional Community Journalism Farmington • Avon • Canton • Simsbury • Granby – CT • USA

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THANK YOU for the story about our Showroom of the Year award — it is way above and beyond! You write impeccably. I can’t thank you enough.

—Mark Bonenfant • Avon Raymour & Flanigan I WAS SURPRISED and delighted to see the article featuring Big Fish on Campus LLC and my work as a college admissions consultant. Thank you very much.

I will share it on social media, and the timing is excellent.

—Denise Karp • Avon • Big Fish on Campus owner THANK YOU so much for posting our event in the Today Calendar — this was a big success because we were SOLD OUT for our March 2nd event. A big thank-you to Today Online for your help in making that happen!

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CENTURY CELEBRATION CCHF Marks 105 Years of Community Care

By Sylvia Cancela Special to Today Magazine

growing Canton community. In 1941, the VNA/Canton Public Health Nursing Association and American Red Cross became two independent entities, with the goal of better serving the unique needs of their communities. With this separation, the VNA became the Canton Visiting Nurse Association Inc. (CVNA).

The CVNA continued to partner with healthcare organizations whose

COVER STORY

NOTEWORTHY NONPROFITS IT’S 1918. As World War I veterans return from overseas, the H1N1 influenza residents against typhoid, using pandemic continues to take lives every syringes sterilized in huge pots of day all over the world, and in Canton. boiling water. In 1962, Maher would The Collinsville War Bureau sets up a begin a 30-year career as a Canton makeshift emergency hospital at the Visiting Nurse. Her legacy includes Congregational Church in Collinsville the reimagining and redevelopment for patients too ill to remain at home. of CVNA’s highly regarded home A new organization has arrived healthcare programming — look for in town, the Visiting Nurse Maher’s story on CCHF’s Association (VNA). social media in the coming In the decades that followed The nurses serve alongside months. the Connecticut State Guard Throughout the coming the 1918 pandemic, the VNA worked closely and Canton’s two doctors, years of expansion and caring for patients during this growth, CVNA remained with the Collinsville branch of the American unprecedented time. Thus the steadfast to its vision as an Red Cross and other regional healthcare VNA’s mission, to champion in-community and personally the health, safety and wellconnected resource. For organizations to meet the evolving needs being of Canton residents, example, CVNA was both begins. This mission has Medicaid- and Medicareof a rapidly growing Canton community continued for a century, and certified, but nevertheless remains as true and vital to our used an accounting model community today under the banner of strategic goals were compatible with where services were paid for on the Canton Community Health Fund its mission to enhance the health, a sliding scale, depending on the (CCHF). safety and well-being of the Canton individual resident’s ability to pay.

One of the VNA’s pioneer nurses, community.

Many times, services and support Amada Furrer, began her service in Case in point: In 1948, from June were offered free of charge.

1922. By the time she retired in 1946, 28-30, the CVNA and the Connecticut A grateful community responded as a Canton Visiting Nurse, one can State Board of Health co-sponsored to the professionalism, skill and only imagine what she would have Canton’s first X-ray clinic. Tuberculosis dedication of CVNA’s nurses with experienced in her practice. was the ongoing concern at the time. financial donations. Such generosity Surely, she would have supported Appointments for service offered led to the creation of CVNA’s Memorial returning veterans looking to reconnect free of charge were available to any Fund, for the benefit of the Canton with their families, despite new resident over the age of 15, and 1,600 community. physical and mental challenges. individuals signed up.

Further paying it forward, in 1968 She would have been a vital partner Confidential reports of the results CVNA established the Canton Public in the Canton school system, from were made available to both the Health Service (CPHS) Scholarship kindergarten to high school. And her individual and the family physician. for graduating Canton High School skills, compassion and experience The clinic was funded by money raised students pursuing further education would have touched multi-generations

by CVNA’s sale of American Red Cross in public health. A follow-up study, of Canton families, from prenatal Christmas Seal stamps. conducted in 1981, found that over 75% through hospice care — see a sidebar of CPHS Scholarship recipients went article to learn more about Furrer. +++ on to careers in analytical chemistry, In the decades that followed the nursing, rehabilitation, physical and 1918 pandemic, the VNA worked IT’S 1955. Deadly flood waters devasrespiratory therapy, and psychology. closely with the Collinsville branch tate Canton. Lois Maher, a new town By the 1980s, Canton had the of the American Red Cross and other resident and nurse at St. Francis largest population of children in the regional healthcare organizations to Hospital in Hartford, is stranded at Farmington Valley. In response, CVNA meet the evolving needs of a rapidly home. So she volunteers to vaccinate prioritized healthy development, safety 4

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2022 GRANT RECIPIENTS • left-to-right • ————————————————— Cheryl Cleaves – SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center of Canton • Michael Langer – Canton Emergency Fuel Bank • Sean McCarthy – Favarh aka The Arc of Farmington Valley • Sarah McCusker – Canton Public Library • Lorinda Paine – Focus on Canton • Karen Adjian – Canton Food Bank • Sergeant David Rodriguez – Canton Police Department • Ashley Born – Gifts of Love

Courtesy Photo

CCHF Grant Recipients — left-to-right • Mark Selander – Canton Police Officer • Jennifer Herbek – Director

COVER PHOTO of Canton Food Bank • Cheryl Cleaves – President/CEO of SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center of Canton Photo by Tom Kutz Photography — 860-693-6254 — www.tomkutzphoto.com

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At his retirement dinner, and wellness by launching the Well Child Conference in 1986. Countering the growing trend for fast check-in and checkout at other area clinics, CVNA director Colette Ostapko laid out a comprehensive plan to “keep our children healthy and our parents well-informed.”

The conference focused on: the latest healthcare training/education; handson nursing support; and strengthening relationships with the local/regional medical community. All programming and services were free of charge, for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years. Case management responsibilities for CVNA nurses could include everything from pre- and post-maternal and child checkups to providing guidance on development phases of childhood.

Well Child also extended from the home into the school system, where the “ladies in blue” were a regular fixture, providing first aid for accidents and illnesses on school grounds.

And there was more change to come. In partnership with Dr. Edward Diters and CVNA’s all-volunteer board of directors, programming reorganized

$8300 in donations are collected — Diters insists that this funding be used as seed money for a new scholarship, available to a Canton resident pursuing an education in

under two main strategic operations: community nursing, to promote health and safety, and clinical programs, built around wellness and preventative services.

Community Nursing — In addition to prioritizing children, community nursing addressed other vulnerable populations in Canton by providing: medication compliance and community transitioning for residents struggling with mental health issues; treatment for chronic illnesses and diseases; postsurgical care; and occupational and physical therapy.

One of the most value-added components of community nursing was CVNA’s Loan Closet. Funded by CNVA’s Memorial Fund, the closet stored long-term medical equipment to assist those who were bedridden and short-term tools and apparatus such as wheelchairs, crutches, commodes and walkers. All of these items were offered to residents free of charge. The closet was devised in response to what CVNA was hearing from Canton’s seniors — they wanted to remain in their own homes vs. going into institutional nursing homes.

Clinical Programs — CVNA nurses were hands-on, boots-on-the-ground and mission-ready through every life stage of Canton residents, whether coordinating monthly blood pressure testing; managing annual flu clinics for seniors; providing vaccines and physicals; offering dental, vision and hearing screenings for schoolchildren; or furnishing nutritional counseling/ education and poison control for the community at large.

The CVNA’s enduring legacy wouldn’t be complete without a note

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Canton Community Health Fund —————————————————————— Seated • left-to-right — Jim Gavin • Sandy Trionfini • Jennifer Barlow Asaro Standing • left-to-right — Nancy Triou • Deirdre Lloyd • Sylvia Cancela • Allie Southworth-Eck Location • former office of CVNA – Canton Town Hall basement • Photo by Tom Kutz Photography

SKILLED NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTERS

Board members not in photo — Janot Bente • Kathy Wood on Canton’s doctors — specifically, Dr. Ralph Cox and Dr. Diters. Their guidance, advocacy, mentoring and unbidden respect for the work of both VNA and CVNA helped pave the way for the community leadership and remarkable accomplishments of these nurses from 1918 to 1989. Diters’ personal legacy actually continues to this day. +++

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IT’S 1989. Canton’s beloved family doctor, Edward Nelson Diters, retires after over 40 years of serving the community.

At his retirement dinner, $8300 in donations are collected.

Diters insists that this funding be used as seed money for a new scholarship, available to a Canton resident pursuing an education in a health-related field.

In May 1990, Canton High School senior Nancy A. MacLaurin becomes the first recipient of a $500 Dr. DitersCVNA Scholarship. Dr. MacLaurin is now a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist in North Carolina — read more about Diters, MacLaurin and other successful scholarship recipients in upcoming CCHF social media posts.

By 1992, the town of Canton had begun transitioning its senior services to in-house programming, while still funding CVNA’s community health, safety and wellness initiatives. CVNA, meanwhile, started to focus on third-party reimbursement for its home-care operation.

By 1997, with Medicare funding and staffing needs

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growing, CVNA made a strategic decision to partner with a larger home-care organization. On June 27, 1997, CVNA entered into a merger agreement with a longtime community partner, McLean Community and Home Care Services, a division of the McLean Fund.

Importantly, in acknowledgement and appreciation of the Canton community’s many decades of financial generosity, the newly merged business partners agreed not only to transition CVNA’s mission to a new community entity, but also to fund it with 100% of the proceeds from the Memorial Fund and the Dr. Diters and CPHS Scholarships.

What started in-community was to remain in-community. +++ IT’S DECEMBER 30, 1997. Canton Community Health Fund Inc. becomes the next generation to carry on the VNA and CVNA mission to contribute to the health, safety and well-being of the Canton community. + Special thanks to — Kathy Taylor, Canton town historian • Tom Ayres, president of Canton Historical Society • Beth Van Ness, reference and adult services librarian — They shared many treasures found at the Canton Historical Museum and Canton Public Library’s Local History Room that informed this article •

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• Canton resident Sylvia Cancela is the chair of Canton Community Health Fund — a writer and professional public relations consultant, Cancela is the founder and owner of Red Barn Communication LLC •

Mission-Ready For A Century Special to Today Magazine

CCHF chair Sylvia Cancela has answered this Q&A —————————————————————————————————

Canton Community Health Fund Inc. • CCHF P.O. Box 75 Collinsville, CT 06022 Email — info@CantonCommunityHealthFund.org www.CantonCommunityHealthFund.org Facebook — @CantonCommunityHealthFund ——————————————————————————————— Year Established 1918 — as Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), which became Canton Visiting Nurse Association Inc. (CVNA) in 1941.

In 1997, CVNA merged with McLean Community and Home Care Services, a division of the McLean Fund.

Once united, these business partners transitioned CVNA’s mission to a new community entity, the Canton Community Health Fund Inc., and funded it with CVNA’s Memorial Fund, the Dr. Diters Scholarship and the Canton Public Health Service Scholarship.

Mission Contributing to the health, safety and well-being of the Canton community

NOTEWORTHY NONPROFITS

CCHF: Big Impact In Small Town investments, every single day. There is less food insecurity among our neighbors. They are kept warmer in winter. They feel more empowered and less vulnerable.

Canton’s first responders have new tools to protect us all.

Individuals who want to pursue careers in healthcare have additional financial assistance to attend the colleges of their choice. There’s always more to be done. And we’ll be here for it.

Goals for the next 1-5 years?

• To Be More Dynamic vs. Transactional — By deepening our partnerships in the community, we will continue to proactively focus our funding-investments on the most important issues and opportunities trending and impacting Canton.

• To Tell Stories That Inspire — Whether it’s honoring CCHF’s legacy through the remarkable service and lives of Canton visiting nurses, celebrating our scholarship recipients as they make their marks throughout the healthcare industry, or sharing the humanity of CCHF’s community partners who are making a difference in our neighbors’ lives, this story-sharing will demonstrate what drives our board and makes us so proud to be from Canton.

Anecdote illustrating how you fulfill your mission:

Slogan By, for and about Canton’s community Most fulfilling aspect of your work?

CCHF’s grants and scholarships are strategic investments in our community. Watching how these investments positively impact the health, safety and well-being of our fellow residents is the very definition of our mission. And following our scholarship recipients, as they make a difference in the healthcare industry at large, further inspires our work as a board.

Your biggest obstacle, and how you overcome it?

CCHF’s all-volunteer board works closely with our community partners. They are the critical hands-on component of our mission. Many of them depend on the participation of volunteers, who can be a highly transitory resource, as every nonprofit in town that depends on volunteers knows.

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We have worked, and will continue to work, to ensure that our application and outcome-reporting processes do not add unnecessary bureaucracy or administrative burden to our community partners.

Most satisfying accomplishment?

After a century of service to our community, the legacy of CCHF’s mission is not only still relevant, but more important than ever. And because we have always been in-community, we see the beautiful irrefutable impact of CCHF’s funding TODAY MAGAZINE – www.TodayPublishing.net – APRIL 2023

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It’s 2022 — Canton is slowly moving beyond everything that the COVID pandemic brought to our community.

CCHF stepped up to promote the health, safety and well-being of Canton by distributing nearly $50,000.00 in grants and scholarships. Through our community partners, CCHF’s grants helped underwrite and provide: • Enhanced weekly meal plans for families who dealt with food insecurity.

• Memory care programming, training, education and supplies for Canton’s seniors and their caregivers.

• Lifesaving equipment for Canton’s first responders to use during search and rescue emergencies.

• Empowerment for children and adults with disabilities, through weekly therapeutic horseback riding sessions and art classes.

• Support for a safe, substance-free environment for Canton’s High School seniors to, once again, gather and celebrate their graduation.

• Funds to pay for electric bills and fuel supplies — including the repair

Interesting stats + numbers:

of a heat pump so that a terminally ill resident could remain home with family.

Since 1998, CCHF has distributed: • Over $70,000 in scholarships to individuals pursuing careers in healthcare.

In 2022, CCHF scholarships also contributed to and supported the ambitions of Canton High School seniors pursuing healthcare careers in: nursing, cancer research and forensic pathology. Read more about how CCHF’s grants and scholarships are making a difference in our upcoming social media posts.

• Over $500,000 in funding investments to community partners who directly and significantly enhance the lives of our neighbors.

Besides donations, how is your work funded?

How has the COVID pandemic impacted your work?

From 2020-2022, Canton Community Health Fund distributed over $100,000 to our community partners and to individuals pursuing careers in healthcare. In some cases, we funded well over the requested amount to more vulnerable populations in Canton who were especially impacted by the COVID pandemic. We were in the position to increase our support — so we did. And because we live and operate CCHF from Canton, the community knew it could rely on us.

Donations from the Canton community are the very basis of CCHF’s foundation — and we continue to count on them today. We do not have an outside corporate sponsor. And true to our legacy, remaining independent is primary in our ability to be flexible and responsive to the community.

As a private foundation, we continue to be 100% funded through the generosity of individuals who understand and support the critical importance of our mission. When people donate to CCHF, they know their money is going to support Canton residents. continued on next page

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How closely do you work with other agencies/nonprofits?

They are our community partners. Like the Canton Visiting Nurse Association before them, our community partners are the hands, ears, eyes and voices — the critical “boots on the ground” — who inform our strategic and financial decisions. These collaborations help us fulfill our complementary missions to benefit our Canton neighbors.

What do you appreciate most about the Farmington Valley?

Every Valley town has its own unique identity that includes both complementary and contrasting characteristics: urban/rural, quirky/ traditional, historic/contemporary, liberal/conservative. But they all have small-town pride in common.

Importantly, you can participate in town government on a commission and in one (or more) nonprofit community organizations or clubs — and you can make a real difference. That’s the thing about small towns. Your voice can be heard.

Because we have always been in-community, we see the beautiful irrefutable impact of CCHF’s funding investments, every single day ... There’s always more to be done — and we’ll be here for it

engage by sharing their talents, experience and knowledge to make a difference in our community — interested parties may apply at www.

CantonCommunityHealthFund.org > About Us > Join Us

GRANBY TODAY

Board of directors:

CCHF’s board is comprised of a talented and accomplished mix of professionals from the fields of law, marketing, business, healthcare, education, emergency services and finance: • Sylvia Cancela — chair • Deidre Lloyd — vice chair • Kathy Wood — treasurer • Jennifer Barlow Asaro — marketing • Nancy Triou — grants coordinator • Janot Bente • Jim Gavin • Allie Southworth Eck

What constructive change would you like to see in the Valley?

Number of employees:

Few people volunteer because they expect to be paid. And most town governments would acknowledge that without the time and skills provided by community volunteers, the business of running a small town would be significantly hampered.

Further comment:

We do not have paid staff.

well-being of the Canton community.

Canton residents may never know that their food, fuel, training or life-saving equipment, provided through our community partners, was funded in part by the Canton Community Health Fund.

Your donation will support our mission and continue to make our work as silent partners possible.

• To donate via our PayPal account, go to our website: About Us > Make A Difference • To donate via mail: Canton Community Health Fund P.O. Box 75, Collinsville CT 06022 • For opportunities to make individual or estate/legacy contributions, please contact CCHF treasurer Kathy Wood: kathleengwood@comcast.net Whatever the next century brings may be unknown. What we do know is that Canton Community Health Fund will be in-community and missionready. On behalf of the CCHF board of directors, we thank you! +

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So, how do you demonstrate appreciation and value for something that is priceless? How about turning the tables and supporting volunteer families? Progressive towns in the Farmington Valley are exploring ways to do this — providing discounts on property taxes, offering gas cards to compensate for travel, and even distributing movie tickets and pool passes. It’s a start.

Volunteer info: CCHF is managed by an all-volunteer board of directors who oversee the fund’s investment in addition to the promotion, assessment, decisionmaking and distribution of grants and scholarships. CCHF is always looking for individuals to actively TODAY MAGAZINE – www.TodayPublishing.net – APRIL 2023

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HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS

CCHF History Traces To 1918 Flu Pandemic

By Bruce Deckert Editor-in-Chief • Today Magazine

WWI Pandemic Far Worse Than COVID

IN THIS EDITION of Today Magazine, we spotlight the history and current work of the Canton Community Health Fund, aka CCHF — a community-building nonprofit that traces its roots back more than a century, to 1918.

The math is straightforward: 2023 is the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) — the CCHF’s ancestral organization that was established in 1918. In 1941, the VNA became the Canton Visiting Nurse Association (CVNA).

In 1997, the CVNA merged with a McLean visiting nurse group, and in the process bequeathed a key component of this community-focused initiative to a new organization — you guessed it, the Canton Community Health Fund.

The VNA was formed in the midst of the H1N1 influenza pandemic of 1918-19 — by far the worst pandemic in modern history in terms of the number of reported deaths, according to the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other sources.

The CDC estimates that at least 50 million people worldwide died during this horrific pandemic, which began as World War I was concluding in 1918. Those 50 million deaths represented 3.3% of the global population of about 1.5 billion people at the time. Other sources say the death toll reached as high as 100 million.

By comparison, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted

The VNA was formed in the midst of the worst pandemic in modern history in 6.8 million people dying worldwide as of March 2023, according to the Switzerland-based World Health Organization (WHO). Those 6.8 million COVID deaths represent 0.0008% of today’s global population of about 7.9 billion people.

During the 1918-19 influenza pandemic, about 500 million people worldwide became infected with the H1N1 virus, according to the CDC — one-third of the global population then.

By comparison, since the COVID pandemic began in 2019, slightly less than one-tenth of the world’s current population has been infected with the COVID-19 virus.

The 1918 influenza pandemic is often called the Spanish flu outbreak, but historical sources say this is an unfair misnomer. Another name for this record-setting pandemic is the Great Influenza. A groundbreaking book by author John M. Barry utilizes that term — “The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History” — published in October 2005.

It’s inaccurate to pinpoint Spain as the source of this flu horror story. The geographic origin of the 1918 outbreak is unknown — or at least not universally agreed on by historians and medical professionals.

Let’s return to Canton, Connecticut, and our cover story on a small organization called the CCHF that aims to give back and make a big difference in the local community.

Just in case it isn’t clear — yes, the origin of our cover story is in this edition of Today Magazine. + Sources • World Health Organization (WHO) • U.S. Census Bureau • History.com • U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) • National Library of Medicine — affiliate of National Institutes of Health Contact: James Stewart james.stewart2@regus.com 203-628-8147

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sponsored by a grant from

Unearthing History: The Discovery of a 12,500 year old Paleo-Indian Site Along the Farmington River in Avon, CT 2023 series sponsored by a grant from

MARCH 23

APRIL 20

MAY 11

The LIDAR Revolution in Earth Surface Mapping, presented by Will Ouimet, Assoc. Professor, Departments of Geosciences and Geography, Univ. of Connecticut. He will explain the techniques used by LIDAR for locating historic human settlements and land use patterns.

LIDAR = Light Detection and Ranging using lasers for 3D scanning. .

Hunting Techniques of the Paleoindian, presented by Richard Boisvert, retired New Hampshire state archeologist, who is very familiar with the discovery and analysis of the Brian D. Jones (BDJ) site and other Paleoindian sites in northern New England.

The Big Importance of Small Things: Microscopic and Blood Residue Analysis of Ancient Stone Tools, presented by Heather M. Rockwell, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Cultural and Historic Preservation, Noreen Stonor Drexel Cultural and Historic Preservation Program, Salve Regina University. This presentation will examine the process and limitations of blood residue and use-wear analysis, and how they have contributed to our understanding of ancient people.

al ic og CT s ol ae orr ch St Ar es, by vic ed er id l S ov ca pr ri o isto ot Ph nd H a

SEPT. 21 Paleoindian Sites, Site Patterning and Travel Corridors along the Southern Arm of the Champlain Sea, presented by Jess Robinson, Vermont State Archaeologist, Vermont Archaeology Heritage Center, Barre, VT. He will compare and contrast Paleo sites in Vermont with the Brian D. Jones site in Avon.

OCT. 12 Update on the scientific analysis of the Brian D. Jones (BDJ) site in Avon, CT 2019, presented by Eric Heffter, Senior Prehistoric Archaeologist, Archaeological and Historical Services, Storrs, CT. His presentation will be 90 minutes with time after for Q&A. October is Archaeology Month in Connecticut!

In partnership with

Watch the webinars from the 2021 and 2022 series on the Avon Library’s YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/afplct

Webinar series created by : Avon Historical Society, Avon Free Public Library, Avon Senior Center

TODAY MAGAZINE – www.TodayPublishing.net – APRIL 2023

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VALLEY INTEL

Amada Furrer – Canton Visiting Nurse • Career History Special to Today Magazine

AMADA FURRER – Canton Visiting Nurse • 1922-46 1918 — Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) established 1941 — VNA becomes Canton Visiting Nurse Association 1997 — Canton Community Health Fund (CCHF) founded ——————————————————————————————————————————————–——— Training — St. Mark’s Hospital – NYC Employer — Canton Visiting Nurse Association Canton Town Hall Office – Phone: #588 Title — Canton Public Health Nurse Work Schedule — 1940 – Monday thru Friday – 44 hours Annual Salary — 1940 – $1560 Professional Highlights 1922 — Joined Visiting Nurse Association, Canton Chapter 1940 — Appointed head nurse for Canton school system — this new position was in addition to her duties as Canton town nurse 1941 — Canton Visiting Nurse Association (CVNA) conducts a town-wide fundraiser to purchase a new car for Furrer 1946 — Furrer retires after 24 years of service to the Canton community • • At the monthly meeting of the Canton Public Health and Nursing Association, Furrer was gifted with a gold broach “in recognition of her unfailing and valuable service here during the past twenty years” • • “The people of Canton will miss Mrs. Furrer, as she not only faithfully fulfilled her duties as the Public Health Nurse, but was also a friend to all those who needed her help, and spent many extra hours, outside of her regular duties, in doing Social Welfare work” •

“Mrs. Furrer … was also a friend to all those who needed her help, and spent many extra hours, outside of her regular duties, in doing Social Welfare work” • “Mrs. Furrer was always cheerful, and always glad to do the many little extra favors that were asked of her, without any thought to her own personal health. It is for these things, that the Town of Canton thanks her for a job well done” • Community Involvement 1940 — Captain, American Red Cross sale of Christmas Seal stamps — 85% of proceeds remained in Canton to combat tuberculosis and other lung diseases 1942 — Executive Committee Member, Salvation Army War Relief Drive — Acting Health Nurse, Canton Defense Council Evacuation Committee 1943 — Community Volunteer, American Red Cross Blood Drive, which raised 145 pints from and for Canton residents 1944 — Chairperson for Home Nursing: American Red Cross, Canton chapter Furrer was also a member of Canton Nurses Club, Cawasa Grange of Collinsville, Canton Rebekah Lodge and St Patrick’s Church, Collinsville Personal — Amada Furrer and her husband Adolph lived in Collinsville for 43 years, where they raised their two children, Carl and Edith • Their family would grow to include three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren • On September 23, 1964, at the age of 82, Furrer died after a long illness • She is buried alongside her husband at Greenwood Cemetery in Avon +

Signature of Amada Furrer — image courtesy of Canton historical sources

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David M. Parent President

NURSING HISTORY — TENDING + MENDING • In November 1986, Colette Ostapko cares for a young patient via the Well Child initiative sponsored by the Canton Visiting Nurse Association — she was director of the CVNA • The Visiting Nurse Association aka VNA was established in 1918 and became the CVNA in 1941 — the Canton Community Health Fund aka CCHF was founded as an offshoot in 1997 • The CVNA began its Well Child initiative in October 1986 — before this, such programming was shared with Avon and Farmington, but those towns merged their services without Canton, says CCHF chair Sylvia Cancela

This photo appeared in the Farmington Valley Herald on November 6, 1986 — the Herald was a weekly newspaper published from 1890 through 2005, according to SimsburyRecords.webs.com

Photo by Randy McGovern — Farmington Valley Herald

By the 1980s, Canton had the largest population of children in the Farmington Valley ... CVNA nurses were hands-on, boots-on-the-ground and mission-ready through every life stage of Canton residents

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Scholarship Recipient Giving Back VALLEY INTEL SCHOOL SCOOP Special to Today Magazine

DEVIN KADIS Dr. Diters Scholarship Recipient ——————————————————————————— • Devin Kadis received the Dr. Diters Scholarship in 2017 — the scholarship is awarded by the Canton Community Health Fund aka CCHF • See page 4 for our CCHF cover story

SNOW PROBLEM-SOLVING

Training — Colorado State University B.S. in kinesiology • 2021

—Devin Kadis helps Jamie relearn how to snowboard after she suffered the loss of her right leg to a traumatic injury — A scholarship recipient via CCHF, Kadis is a supervisor at the National Ability Center in Utah — Jaime is training for the Paralympics

Employer — National Ability Center Park City, Utah Title — Groups and Military Program Supervisor Professional Highlights Devin supervises recreational therapy for people of various abilities — physical, cognitive or intellectual — and other challenges. She also works specifically with veterans who have physical disabilities and with those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and/or military sexual trauma.

Devin hosts groups of 15 to 30 veterans, from all over the country, for overnight retreats where she leads them in a wide variety of recreational programming, including mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, whitewater rafting and many other outdoor opportunities.

Many of these veterans have not left

their homes in years. This life-changing programming benefits them now and in the future as they look forward to more adventures to come.

Value of Dr. Diters Scholarship “The Dr. Diters Scholarship allowed me to explore my options without the strain of finances being the issue. I was very lucky to have scholarships like this one that allowed me to volunteer, intern and shadow different healthcare fields so I could be certain which career path I wanted to take.” — Devin Kadis Future Plans Devin plans to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy in the fall of 2024:

“Eventually, I aspire to help rehabilitate veterans with disabilities,” she says, “and create a program that helps feed into a better healthcare system for all veterans.”

Personal “My brother inspired me to enter this field. He has faced more challenges than most, but he never quit, and I knew that was the type of person I wanted to surround myself with for the rest of my life. This field allows me to make it through the tough days and remember that what I do truly makes a difference in someone’s life. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” — Devin Kadis +

HOUSE CALL A mother house wren captures a moth — this songbird has one of the largest ranges of any songbird in the world — from Canada to southernmost South America — per AllAboutBirds.org 20 APRIL 2023 – www.TodayPublishing.net – TODAY MAGAZINE

Photo by Wendy Rosenberg

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ADVERTISER Hall of Fame – TODAY Magazine • This is a list of advertising sponsors who have seen the value of investing in Today Magazine’s award-winning journalism as we cover the heart of the Farmington Valley — this is intended to be a comprehensive list • If you have advertised with Today Publishing but don’t see your business or organization listed, please contact us so we can add you to our Advertiser Hall of Fame — advertise@todaypublishing.net Anthology Senior Living — 860-546-8037 — Simsbury www.anthologyseniorliving.com > Location ——————————————————————————————— Avon Health Center — 860-673-2521 — Avon www.avonhealthcenter.com ——————————————————————————————— Avon Historical Society — 860-678-7621 — Avon www.avonhistoricalsociety.org ——————————————————————————————— A Teen Edge — 860-593-2822 www.ateenedge.com ——————————————————————————————— Board and Brush — 860-392-8567 — Simsbury www.boardandbrush.com/simsbury ——————————————————————————————— Canton Barn LLC — 860-693-0601 — Canton www.cantonbarn.com ——————————————————————————————— Canton Food Bank — 860-693-5811 — Canton www.townofcantonct.org ——————————————————————————————— Carmon Funeral Homes — 860-673-8610 www.carmonfuneralhome.com ——————————————————————————————— Carol Cole Real Estate — 860-212-0687 — Canton www.carolcolerealestate.com ——————————————————————————————— Cherry Brook Health Care Center — 860-693-7777 — Canton www.cherrybrookhcc.com ——————————————————————————————— Christensen Insurance — 860-651-8236 — Simsbury www.insuranceagentswhocare.com ——————————————————————————————— Christopher Bryant Co. — 860-243-3500 — Bloomfield www.thechristopherbryantcompany.com ——————————————————————————————— Collinsville Bank — 860-693-6935 — Canton www.collinsvillebank.com ——————————————————————————————— Connecticut Dance Academy — 860-707-4198 — Canton www.ctdanceacademy.com ——————————————————————————————— Connecticut Headshots — 860-263-9277 — Avon www.connecticutheadshots.com ——————————————————————————————— Dynamic Auto Works — 860-693-6359 — Canton www.facebook.com/DynamicAutoCanton ——————————————————————————————— Erica Maglieri: Realtor — 860-324-6842 bhhsneproperties.com/real-estate-agent/757/erica-maglieri ——————————————————————————————— Fresh Start Pallet Products — 860-266-5726 — Hartford www.freshstartpalletproducts.org 26

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——————————————————————————————— Granby-Simsbury Chamber of Commerce — 860-651-7307 www.simsburycoc.org ——————————————————————————————— Green Door Restaurant — 860-693-9762 — Canton www.41bridgestreet.com ——————————————————————————————— Habitat for Humanity — 860-541-2208 — Hartford www.hfhncc.org ——————————————————————————————— Hartford Symphony Orchestra — 860-246-8742 — Hartford www.hartfordsymphony.org ——————————————————————————————— HealthMarkets Insurance — 860-307-1128 — Torrington www.healthmarkets.com — Mel Brickman ——————————————————————————————— Hulme & Sweeney Pianos — 860-408-4895 — Simsbury www.hulmesweeneypianoservice.com ——————————————————————————————— Karedigs.com — 860-379-4340 — Barkhamsted www.karedigs.com ——————————————————————————————— Kerian Home Health Care — 860-851-6267 — Simsbury www.keriancares.com ——————————————————————————————— Kevin Witkos: State Senator ——————————————————————————————— Landscape Solutions — 860-329-2014 — New Hartford www.landscapesolutionsct.com ——————————————————————————————— Leslee Hill for State Representative ——————————————————————————————— Lifetime Family Dentistry — 860-605-2075 — Collinsville www.lifetimefamilydentistryct.com ——————————————————————————————— Linda Kessler: Realtor — 860-836-6172 — Avon www.coldwellbankerhomes.com > Agents ——————————————————————————————— Liza Sivek Marketing — 203-278-5492 www.lizasivekmarketing.com ——————————————————————————————— Maglieri Construction — 860-242-0298 — Bloomfield www.maglieri-construction.com ——————————————————————————————— Magna Physical Therapy — 860-679-0430 — Avon www.magnapt.com ——————————————————————————————— Maher’s Paint & Wallpaper — 860-678-1200 — Avon + Simsbury www.maherspaintandwallpaper.com ——————————————————————————————— Make It GF — 860-693-1300 — Canton www.makeitgf.com ———————————————————————————————

Mandel Vilar Press — 806-790-4731 — Simsbury www.mvpublishers.org ——————————————————————————————— Massage Envy — 860-693-8000 — Canton www.massageenvy.com > Locations ——————————————————————————————— The Master’s School — 860-651-9361 — West Simsbury www.masterschool.org ——————————————————————————————— McLean — 860-658-3786 — Simsbury www.mcleancare.org ——————————————————————————————— Nails of Envy — formerly Canton + Avon ——————————————————————————————— Northwest Community Bank — 860-379-7561 www.nwcommunitybank.com ——————————————————————————————— Odalys Bekanich: Realtor — 860-965-3652 — Avon www.coldwellbankerhomes.com > Agents ——————————————————————————————— Peggy’s Personalized Promos — 860-379-7775 — New Hartford www.peggys.biz ——————————————————————————————— Planning Partners LLC — 860-693-9916 — Canton www.planningpartner.com ——————————————————————————————— Raimie Weber Jewelry — 860-409-3400 — Avon www.rweberjewelry.com ——————————————————————————————— Randy Brolo: Book Author www.lulu.com > Spirit of Delilah ——————————————————————————————— Ravenswood Natural Health — 860-264-1587 — Simsbury www.ravenswoodnaturalhealth.com ——————————————————————————————— Richman Business Brokerage — 860-408-9177 — Simsbury www.richmanbusiness.com — formerly The Deal Team ——————————————————————————————— Suburban Sanitation Service — 860-673-3078 — Canton www.subsanserv.com ——————————————————————————————— Trading Post — 860-693-4679 — Canton www.tradingpostmusic.com ——————————————————————————————— Transition Fitness Center — 860-398-1449 — Canton www.transition-fitness-center.business.site ——————————————————————————————— UConn Health — 860-658-8750 www.health.uconn.edu ——————————————————————————————— Up Top Barbershop — 860-658-4499 — Simsbury www.booksy.com > Up Top Barbershop ——————————————————————————————— Vincent Funeral Homes — 860-693-0251 www.vincentfuneralhome.com ——————————————————————————————— Vincent Tully: Realtor — 860-214-3030 www.coldwellbankerhomes.com > Agent ——————————————————————————————— Welden Hardware — 860-658-4078 — Simsbury www.weldenhardware.com

——————————————————————————————— William Raveis — 860-693-2987 — Avon www.raveis.com/agentfind.asp?smart=1 ——————————————————————————————— The Village: Second Chance Shops — 860-236-4511 www.thevillage.org/second-chance-shops ———————————————————————————————

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